2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty show talent
Charlotte Holman
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: In the Spotlight
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Every day at Southwest Baptist University, students see their professors in classes, their offices, the cafeteria and even at Wal-Mart. Outside of academia, however, students might come across their professor's name next to a piece of art or on the cover of a CD.
Whether students realize it or not, SBU professors have talents and hobbies that fall outside their field of expertise.
Dr. Tim DeClue, department of Computer and Information Sciences Chair, is quite the music man. He started playing the guitar his junior year of high school. On his musical resume, DeClue also lists the banjo, harmonica, bass and occasionally the piano. DeClue also sings.
DeClue plays in two bands, the Esquire Band and Local Folks. The Esquire Band is associated with First Baptist Church and plays every Wednesday night at the Esquire Theatre. Local Folks is a three-person band playing a wide range of music from bluegrass to The Mamas and the Papas. DeClue says the band mostly plays music they grew up with and enjoy today.
DeClue says he enjoys playing and singing because it's fun.
"Music is a gift from God," said DeClue. "He made it fun."
Another professor with musical abilities sits in an office on the other side of campus in the Communication Department, Dr. Brett Miller, associate Professor of Communications.
Miller picked up the guitar about seven years ago and began to teach himself to play. He now plays rhythm guitar, writes songs and sings in his band Minks & Miller with fellow band members Todd Minks, Kenny Wirt and Jessica Gray. Miller described the music of Minks & Miller as "Americana acoustic folk rock." Minks & Miller even has a CD out called "Life After All." "The Springfield News-Leader" featured Minks & Miller's debut album as one of the top ten local CDs of the year.
Miller said he and his band mates have enough songs for a new album and plan to record their next CD next summer.
Miller enjoys writing and playing music for the change of pace.
"It's a creative outlet that is very different from everything else I do," said Miller. "Music affects people in ways speech and writing don't."
Students can visit www.mayapplerecords.com for music samples and more information about Minks & Miller.
Dr. Dave Bennett, associate professor of Evangelism, believes that everyone has a God-given talent. His just happens to be painting.
Bennett enjoys painting landscapes with oils, one of his favorite landscapes being the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Bennett sees painting as an act of worship.
"It is a chance for me to honor God by developing what He started in me," said Bennett.
Bennett's art will be showing in the Hawthorne Galleries at Springfield's First Friday Art Walk Sept. 7 in downtown Springfield.
DeClue, Miller and Bennett are just a few of the diversely talented professors at SBU.
Whether students realize it or not, SBU professors have talents and hobbies that fall outside their field of expertise.
Dr. Tim DeClue, department of Computer and Information Sciences Chair, is quite the music man. He started playing the guitar his junior year of high school. On his musical resume, DeClue also lists the banjo, harmonica, bass and occasionally the piano. DeClue also sings.
DeClue plays in two bands, the Esquire Band and Local Folks. The Esquire Band is associated with First Baptist Church and plays every Wednesday night at the Esquire Theatre. Local Folks is a three-person band playing a wide range of music from bluegrass to The Mamas and the Papas. DeClue says the band mostly plays music they grew up with and enjoy today.
DeClue says he enjoys playing and singing because it's fun.
"Music is a gift from God," said DeClue. "He made it fun."
Another professor with musical abilities sits in an office on the other side of campus in the Communication Department, Dr. Brett Miller, associate Professor of Communications.
Miller picked up the guitar about seven years ago and began to teach himself to play. He now plays rhythm guitar, writes songs and sings in his band Minks & Miller with fellow band members Todd Minks, Kenny Wirt and Jessica Gray. Miller described the music of Minks & Miller as "Americana acoustic folk rock." Minks & Miller even has a CD out called "Life After All." "The Springfield News-Leader" featured Minks & Miller's debut album as one of the top ten local CDs of the year.
Miller said he and his band mates have enough songs for a new album and plan to record their next CD next summer.
Miller enjoys writing and playing music for the change of pace.
"It's a creative outlet that is very different from everything else I do," said Miller. "Music affects people in ways speech and writing don't."
Students can visit www.mayapplerecords.com for music samples and more information about Minks & Miller.
Dr. Dave Bennett, associate professor of Evangelism, believes that everyone has a God-given talent. His just happens to be painting.
Bennett enjoys painting landscapes with oils, one of his favorite landscapes being the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Bennett sees painting as an act of worship.
"It is a chance for me to honor God by developing what He started in me," said Bennett.
Bennett's art will be showing in the Hawthorne Galleries at Springfield's First Friday Art Walk Sept. 7 in downtown Springfield.
DeClue, Miller and Bennett are just a few of the diversely talented professors at SBU.
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